Stopper for electrolytic pots containing fused baths.



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

CHARLES M. HALL, CF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK. STOPPER FOR ELECTROLYTIG POTS CONTAININGI FUSED BATHS.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1', 1905.

Application iiled April 30, 1902. Serial No. 105,265.

-the ready tapping ofthe tap-holes of electrolytic pots containing fused baths, such as pots used in the reduction of aluminium. It is n'ec-v essary that the workmen should be able to.

open quickly and easily the tap-holes of such pots when it is desired to withdraw the metal. Any delay in inserting the stopper entails waste of the molten bath which overlies the layer of metal to be withdrawn, and if the stopper is hard to dislodge it requires an eX- penditure of labor, and the effort required to dislodge it may occasion injury to the pot or to its lining.

My invention consists in a tapering metal plug which is driven ,into a body of plastic material composed, preferably, of powdered carbon and a carbonaceous binder, such as tar, previously placed in the tap-hole. The plug is driven into the plastic body before the latter has become hard, and it is forced inward until its end nearly reaches the interior of the potlining, and although the plastic body which surrounds the plug hardens and becomes baked around the plug and eectually seals the tap-hole against the escape of metal the plug can be Withdrawn readily when it is desired to open the hole. The plug is sufliciently long to project outwardly beyond the shell of the pot and is provided with a head which can be struck with a hammer or bar, enabling the plug to be removed. yThe contact of the plug with the atmosphere cools it and prevents the destruction of the inner end by heat or corrosion.

In the drawing, 2 represents the metal shell of a pot for the reduction of aluminium. 3 is the lining. 4 is the tap-hole. y In stopping the tap-hole I first place in it a ball 5 of plastic material, as above stated, and then drive thereinto a tapering iron plug 6, the end of which has a head 6', enabling it to be seizedwhen it is to be withdrawn.

I clairnl. A stopper for pots containing fused.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES M. HALL.

Witnesses: l

C. H. MORITZ, j LILIAN E. COLT.v 

